Newly elected Mongolian lawmakers take office

Mongolia's newly elected parliament members were sworn in Friday during the legislative body's opening session.

Namsrijavttulg Luvsanjav, president of the General Election Committee of Mongolia, announced the election results during the session.

Luvsanjav said the Democratic Party won 31 seats in the election, ahead of the ruling Mongolian People's Party, which gained 25 seats in the 76-member parliament.

The Justice Coalition formed by the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party and the Mongolian National Democratic Party won 11 seats. The remaining five seats went to the Civil Will-Green Party and three independent candidates.

The remaining four seats in the parliament still await final results.

Two of the seats will be decided in another election because of the candidates' failure to get at least 28 percent of the total vote.

After the inauguration of the new parliament, forming a new government has become the top priority.

But given the fact that no parties or coalitions have an absolute majority of seats, a coalition government is expected to be formed.

The unicameral Mongolian State Great Hural (parliament) is the supreme body of state power and owns the legislative power. Parliament elections are held once every four years.